70 Internal Improvements* 



LETTER XIII. 



In my last letter, I endeavoured to show the impor- 

 tance of improving the Susquehanna, from its entrance 

 at the north line of our state to Middletown ; and, in 

 order to induce you to agree with me in opinion re- 

 specting that object, I traced the sources of the river 

 and the several outlets, by which we may draw into 

 Pennsylvania, the immense and valuable products of 

 the western parts of New York. 



Although my chief intent is to urge the improve- 

 ment of the Susquehanna, and although I intended 

 to defer to another number any recommendation for 

 improving the Delaware, I find this place the most fit 

 for speaking of that object, since it is connected with 

 the question of relative distance to New York or Phi- 

 ladelphia from the lakes, which I intend to discuss in 

 this letter. 



The river Delaware is principally formed by two 

 large streams, the Mohock, which rises in the county 

 of Delaware, and the Popacton, which rises within the 

 county of Ulster, both in the state of New York, and 

 the latter within fifteen miles of the Hudson. The na- 

 vigation of both these streams is adequate to the ascent 

 or descent of vessels of ten tons, for above fifty miles, 

 before they unite and form the Delaware. After hav- 

 ing joined, the Delaware flows nearly in a south east- 

 ern direction, for about eighty five miles, where it 

 turns to the south at the town of Milford, and passes 

 nearly in a south western direction, for about seventy 

 miles, to Easton, from Easton to tide water at Trenton, 

 fifty miles, nearly a south eastern direction ; from head 



